Assessment of the Relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and the Development of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Abstract

Object: Hyperemesis gravidarum, the leading cause of hospitalization in the first trimester, is observed in 0.3% to 3.6% of all pregnant women worldwide. Vitamin D is a significant vitamin for human health, and vitamin D deficiency in the pregnant women population in Turkey is a common pathology. In this context, this study was carried out to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the development of hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods: The population of this prospective, single-center, case-controlled study consisted of pregnant women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. In the end, 23 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum were included in the patient group, and 30 healthy pregnant women with demographic characteristics that match those with hyperemesis gravidarum were included in the control group. The Vitamin D and hematocrit levels were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups in the serum vitamin D (p = 0.760) and hematocrit (p = 0.149) levels. Overall, only 9 (17%) of the 53 pregnant women had sufficient (> 20 ng / ml) vitamin D. There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups in the number of patients with vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion: The study findings did not indicate a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and hyperemesis gravidarum. Further large-scale studies are needed to establish the absence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and hyperemesis gravidarum. On the other hand, the fact that only 17% of the pregnant women who participated in this study had sufficient vitamin D revealed the need to emphasize using vitamin D supplements in pregnant women as early as possible in the first trimester.